Invalid-bed.



PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903-.

' w. MoLENN'AN.

INVALID BED.

APPLICATION rum) ma, 11. 1902'...

K0 MODEL.

QM blames ms uonms vrrcns co. murmumo. WASMmsTnN. n. c.

UNITED STATES iatented September 190L 52" PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MOLENNAN, OF OGDENSBURG, NEW YORK.

INVALID-BED.

srncrnxcArrorr forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,336, dated September as, 1903. Application filed March 17, 1902. 7 Serial No. 98|507. (No model.)

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM MOLENNAN, a

citizen of the'United' States, residing at Ogdensburg, in the county of St. Lawrence and ,State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Invalids Beds;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a which shall embrace novel means whereby the occupant maybe raised to a sitting posture or any degree of inclination desired in a gradual manner under the control of the operator and supported when the position desired has been reached.

With the above and other objects in view the invention further resides in the noveldetails of construction and com bination of parts to be hereinafter fully described and then set forth in the'claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the means for operating the head-frame and the inclosing casing therefor, the latter being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a like view showing the manner of supporting the rack-bars in position. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the head-frame, partly broken away. Fig. 5 is a detail View in section, showing the joint be tween the elements 8 and 9.

The bed 1 is preferably one of the wells known types of metal bedsteads, supporting the woven-wire mattress.

In order to more conveniently permit of transportation or facilitate the handling of the bed, the head thereof is usually formed in two sections hinged one to the other, as at.

2, the upper section carrying dogs 3, adapted for engagement with the lower section,whereby the former is secured in its extended position. The head-frame has a movable connection with the side rails of the bed by means of the socket 6, into'which extends the slip-rod 7, having a limited vertical movement. 8 designates a socket pivotally carried by the rod 7 and in which is revolubly mounted the rod 9, carrying a ratchet-wheel 10, engaged by the pawl 11, secured to the cross-bar'12, forminga component part of the head-frame. This cross-bar is also secured to the other of the rods on the farther side of the bed, forming the head-frame or back-support. In order to provide a suitable supporting medium for the mattress :of the headframe, I employ a canvas apron. 14, which is rigidly secured to the several aforesaid rods and whose tension may be regulated at will by rotation of the rod 9, the latter being secured against rearward movement by the pawl previously mentioned.

Itis a desideratum that the patient be submitted to as little jar, shock,or decided change in assuming a sitting posture from a lying one as is possible and that the same be effected in a gradual and minute manner, whichI accomplish by novel means comprising rack bars 15, having a hinge connection with the sockets 38, carried by the head-frame, and

which extend into casings 16, suitably secured to the side rails of the bed. Intermeshing with the teeth of the rack-bar and mounted within thiscasing is a pinion 17, which carries a pinion 18, preferably of a largerv diameter. A pair of these pinions are secured to each end of a common shaft which extends in a direction transverse to the bed, assuring their simultaneous action and the head-frame being evenly operated.- In order to cause the racksto mesh with the pinions at all times, I mount cheek-pieces 19 loosely upon the common shaft and provide them with antifrictionrollers 20, engaging the rear of the rack-bar.

tial diameters-intermesh with the pinion 18, the larger of the train of gears carrying operating means, such as a crank 21, whereby the gears may be actuated to impart movement A spring-detent 22 has a to the rack-bar. pivotal mount within the casing and when in its normal position engages the drivinggear and secures the'same against rearward 'A train of gears preferably having ditferenvention, still I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, as it is obvious various changes may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the type set forth, the combination with the bed or the like, of rods carrying means at their lower ends for pivotally connecting the rods to the side rails of the bed, said means having a limited upward movement, means connected to the rods for raising and lowering the same, a connecting medium between the rods forming a support for the back-rest mattress, the latter operating independently of the bed-body mattress.

2. In a device of the type set forth, the combination with the bed or like, of a head-frame having a pivotal connection with the side rails of the bed, with means for permitting the pivotal connection to operate ina limited upward direction, the head-frame operating independent of the bed-body, and means for raising and lowering the head-frame.

3. In a device of the type set forth, the combination with a bed or the like, of a socket secured to each of the side rails of the bed and having a slip-rod therein, a socket pivoted to the slip-rod, a rod mounted in the said lastnamed socket, a bar connecting the said lastnamed rods, and an apron secured to the lastnamed rod, with means for adjusting the tension of said apron, raising-bars carried by the rods last named, means for raising and lowering said bars, and means for locking said bars at several positions, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the type set forth, the combination with the bed or the like, of a socket secured to each of the side rails of the bed and having a slip-rod therein, with means for limiting the vertical movement of the sliprod, a socket pivoted to the slip-rod, a rod mounted in the socket with a connection between the rods, means for raising and lowering said rods, said rods and said connection therebetween forming a support for the back rest mattress, said back-rest mattress operating independently of the bed-body mattress.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM MCLENNAN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE B. SHEPARD, EDWARD P. LYNCH. 

